Soldiers Arrange for Iraqi Boy's Surgery

Soldiers arrange for Iraqi boy's surgery
3rd Brigade Heavy Combat Team also captures insurgents with top-level connections
BY MICK WALSH

A compilation of stories produced by the public affairs staff of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq:

Lucky No. 3

The third time was the charm for a young boy from the town of Hollendia, Iraq, thanks in large part to the work of soldiers from the 3rd HBCT.

It took three surgeries to reintroduce the boy's colon into his body at Al Sadr Hospital in An Najaf last week.

Ahaip was born with an obstructed bowel at birth, which required emergency surgery. The surgery left his intestines outside his body until he was discovered by soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and the 97th Civil Affairs Battalion, a Reserve unit from Fort Bragg, N.C.

Since May, the 3-1 has been working with the boy's family to help him live a normal life. Using Army contacts, they were able to coordinate with a surgeon at Al Sadr hospital to get him the medical treatment he desperately needed.

"This last surgery lasted about two hours and it was a complete success," said 1st Lt. Chris Sweitzer from Maryville, Tenn. "The boy is recovering and should be ready to return home in about a week."

The week prior to surgery, 3-1 Cav coordinated air travel to get the child and his father from Hollendia in time for the surgery.

"We will check back in a couple of days to make sure he is doing all right," Sweitzer said.

Insurgents captured

Three suspected insurgents, believed linked to a high-value individual captured the day prior, were detained near the area known as the Brick Factory, east of Nahrwan, last week.

Soldiers from Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment detained the men after they were identified as belonging to a cell connected to the high-value target, who was captured Oct. 10.

No. 4 on the brigade's most-wanted insurgent list, the top-level target was captured during a night raid in Baghdad.

"The capture of these insurgents continues to disrupt the operations of the cell operating out of Narhwan," said Maj. David Fivecoat, the brigade's operations officer. "Their incarceration will help increase the safety and security of the area."

Water bearers

U.S. soldiers worked with local residents to meet basic needs in Al Ja'ara, delivering 24,000 liters of bottled water.

Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion escorted the shipment into town and posted guards to ensure a secure delivery.

"This was the first step in a very long process," Maj. John Wolfe said. "They had a need and we came in and helped them. In the process, we got to evaluate some of the other needs of the community."

While local residents unloaded the water, soldiers talked with village leaders about their concerns.

Attention, class

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment received a class from AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilots at the landing zone at FOB Hammer on Saturday.

The 1-10 FA recently moved to FOB Hammer from the Camp Bucca Detention Facility and will soon take responsibility for a portion of the 3rd HBCT's battle space this week.

"The purpose of the class was to integrate the 1-10 into their battle space," said Maj. Clyde Fleming, the 3rd brigade's aviation officer. "We wanted them to see the Apache's air capabilities and the pilots' tactics, techniques and procedures."

Soldiers listened to the pilots explain their capabilities and how they could help the soldiers on their missions.

"If we can talk soldiers through situations now, it makes it much easier when we actually have to go through them when it's for real," said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Durrer, a pilot with 1-3 Aviation Regiment.